Thousands of you responded, and we’re so grateful to be working side-by-side with such caring conservationists. Behind every great wildlife victory – from defending species from extinction to restoring waterways to protecting pristine habitat – is a caring supporter like you. Thank you.

Here are the results of the 2015 Membership Month Survey.

63%: Permanently protecting amazing wildlife habitat areas and wild lands especially in the 600 million acres of public lands in this country

A mother grizzly leading her cubs through the tall grass at Katmai National Park, Alaska. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Richard Rigterink.

52%: Stopping the destruction of crucial wildlife habitat from mining, agriculture and development

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Comments

For this Membership Survey, you did more than vote. You shared your commitment to wildlife and the natural world through inspiring comments, like these:

“I want the wilderness, our waterways and the sea to remain clean & safe for all the birds, fish and wildlife.”

“My childhood memories of playing in the woods inspire me to speak out. All children should experience the joy of floating a leaf down a fresh water woodland stream and hearing tree frogs chirping the arrival of spring.”

“I care about everything that makes up nature and the wild; from the tiniest bug to the largest mammal, from the tiniest seedling to the largest tree.”

“To me it’s all important. I love being able to walk away from the noise and pollution of the city into a pristine wilderness whether desert, forest, mountain or beach.”

“Restore and protect our native ecosystems and wildlife! I am in the process of planting my whole yard with native plants. I spread the word when I can on the importance of planting native. Wildlife is dependent on it.”

“We need the beauty and the awe of wildlife and wild places in our lives to be the best human beings.”

It is clear that folks across the nation love supporting wildlife conservation. Thank you all for the thousands of responses; I commit to you that we will work hard every day to advocate for wildlife protection and speak for wildlife that can’t speak for themselves.

Dear readers, what did we miss? Leave a comment to tell us more about what inspires you to rise up, speak out and defend wildlife.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2015/03/results-which-wildlife-issues-top-your-list/feed/2512 Wins for Wildlife in 2014 That YOU Made Possiblehttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/12/12-wins-for-wildlife-in-2014-that-you-made-possible/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/12/12-wins-for-wildlife-in-2014-that-you-made-possible/#commentsTue, 16 Dec 2014 13:43:32 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=102485Read more >]]>Sometimes it’s hard to see how one small act can make a difference in this world. How can signing a petition or casting a vote or making a donation save a species?

Let me show you.

In 2014, friends like you joined together with the National Wildlife Federation and our great state affiliates to defend nature’s gifts – our wildlife, our waterways, our treasured natural lands — for now and for generations to come.

And we won! We won victories for bison and bears and meadowlark and mountain lions, and so much more. We won because supporters like you stood up, showed up, spoke up and signed up.

Let’s celebrate these victories together. Here are just a sampling of the inspiring wins for wildlife your support made possible this year.

We are profoundly grateful for your passion and commitment to wildlife.

WIN #1

WILD BISON: Back Where They Belong on Tribal Lands

More than any other species, the American bison is a true icon of the prairie wilderness. Found nowhere else on the planet, tens of millions of wild bison used to roam the continent’s vast grasslands.

Then, in the 19th century, bison were slaughtered to the brink of extinction. Their comeback has been agonizingly slow.

In 2014, with support from friends of wildlife like you, we worked closely with the Montana Wildlife Federation and other partners to achieve a stunning breakthrough for wild bison – returning 138 of these magnificent beasts to their historic range on Assiniboine and Sioux tribal lands on Fort Peck Reservation in Montana.

WIN #2

ORCA: Dirty Coal Project Stopped!

In August, wildlife advocates, led by our Oregon state affiliate the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, secured a huge win for orcas, trout and many more wildlife in the Pacific Northwest when Oregon Governor Kitzhaber rejected a permit for the Port of Morrow coal export terminal.

The decision severely hinders any future progress on this dangerous project, which would have destroyed crucial fish habitat, polluted critical waterways and accelerated climate change.

WIN #3

MOUNTAIN LION: California Habitat Permanently Protected

In October, President Obama permanently protected 346,000 acres of wild land in California’s San Gabriel Mountains that provide critical habitat for mountain lions and other wildlife. More than 21,000 National Wildlife Federation friends joined with numerous local organizations to make it happen.

Protecting this amazing range is a homerun for wildlife and all outdoor enthusiasts. The monument designation protects vital wildlife habitat not only for mountain lions, but also other wildlife such as California condors, yellow-legged frogs and Nelson’s bighorn sheep.

Next step for mountain lions: create a wildlife crossing that will provide safe passage near the Santa Monica Mountains, where their natural range is split by a massive, multi-lane freeway.

WIN #4

BROWN BEAR & SALMON: Bristol Bay Forever Initiative Passes

A proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska would be the largest open pit mine in North America and cause disastrous, irreversible damage to Bristol Bay, home to the greatest remaining runs of wild sockeye salmon on earth.

Fortunately, voters across Alaska rose up this fall in support of the Bristol Bay Forever Initiative ballot measure, which was led by the Renewable Resources Coalition, our Alaska affiliate. The measure now requires legislative approval and an environmental review and finding of no significant fisheries impact from any mining project in the watershed of the Bristol Bay Fisheries, which provides another layer of protection for this stunning natural resource.

In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took steps in February to protect Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble Mine! Friends of wildlife submitted more than 35,000 comments denouncing the project.

This is all tremendous news for salmon, brown bear and all people who prize our magnificent wild lands.

WIN #5

MOOSE: No Dirty Tar Sands Oil in Maine

Over the past few years, the oil industry has been quietly advancing plans to ship Canadian tar sands from South Portland, which would include large industrial combustion towers that would spew toxic chemicals in the air, threatening the health of people and wildlife like moose along South Portland’s scenic coast.

Following strong advocacy by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, our state affiliate, in July, the South Portland, Maine, City Council passed an ordinance that would prohibit toxic tar sands oil from being loaded onto tankers in this coastal port.

This victory shows that the persistent efforts of tens of thousands of wildlife advocates like you, who are saying NO to tar sands, are paying off!

WIN #6

In November, New Jersey voters said yes to Public Questions 2 – the New Jersey Open Space Preservation Funding Amendment with staff from our state affiliate, New Jersey Audubon helping to lead the way. The measure dedicates state funds to protect the state’s clean drinking water, open spaces, farmland and historic sites, as well as improve water quality and clean up polluted sites across the whole Garden State.

The measure is a win-win for New Jersey voters and the wildlife like great blue heron that need healthy waterways to survive.

WIN #7

MANATEE: Funding Approved for Habitat Restoration

Florida manatees have fascinated people for centuries, from early sailors thinking they were mermaids, to families visiting everglades today. But pollution and coastal development are damaging their habitat.

In November, Florida conservation voters secured a victory for manatees and other wildlife with the passage of Florida Amendment 1, placed on the ballot by the signatures of nearly one million concerned Floridians. This would not have happened without the strong support of the Florida Wildlife Federation.

The initiative will provide more than 15 billion dollars of dedicated funding to restore the Everglades, protect drinking water sources, and revive the state’s historic commitment to preserving natural lands and wildlife habitat.

WIN #8

MEADOWLARK: Congress Passes Wildlife-Friendly Farm Bill

Meadowlarks, vibrantly colored songbirds, build their nests and forage for food in native grasslands, meadows, and farm fields during the winter.

And now, farmers can help them!

In February, after years of persistent effort by tens of thousands of wildlife advocates and dozens of National Wildlife Federation affiliates, Congress passed a new farm bill that provides huge wins for wildlife. The 2014 Farm Bill is a strong, conservation-friendly bill that supports healthy soil, clean water and abundant habitat for wildlife. It contains a substantial increase in funding to help farmers create wildlife habitat on working lands and important improvements for protecting our fragile native grasslands.

WIN #9

CARIBOU: Keystone XL Pipeline on Hold

Adapted to live in wintry climes, caribou have snowshoe-like hooves and antlers that they use to shovel aside snow to reach the caribou moss and lichen beneath.

Sadly, the caribou herds in the tar sands area are at great risk from the loss of their boreal forest habitat to development, timber cutting and tar sands oil projects destroying the landscape. The massive Keystone XL tar sands pipeline threatens what remains of their fragile habitat.

Thanks to advocates like you, Keystone is on hold.

In April, Secretary of State John Kerry delayed a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, citing the need for more clarity on the project’s route. There is no doubt that the comments submitted from tens of thousands of conservationists like you made the difference.

This fight is not over. The battle will surely flare up and intensify again in 2015.

WIN #10

DEER: New Safeguards in Place

Heading outdoors to spot a white-tailed deer is a cherished past-time for many Missouri citizens, but a deadly epidemic of chronic wasting disease threatens free-ranging herds. Yet some legislators in Missouri proposed to reclassify captive deer as livestock. Yes, livestock like cows. Missouri Governor Nixon vetoed the measure, but the legislature tried to overturn his veto. If it wasn’t for the tireless fight of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, our state affiliate, which helped stop the legislature from overriding the veto, deer populations across Missouri would be at greater risk of disease.

Further, after hearing from more than 40,000 friends of wildlife like you, officials voted unanimously to strengthen safeguards that help protect wild deer and elk from disease in Missouri.

While this fight is far from over, our support of wildlife has helped curb the spread of this fatal disease.

WIN #11

SCREECH OWL: Thousands of New Trees Provide Homes and Food for Wildlife

Trees throughout America are rapidly disappearing right now, leaving wildlife like screech owls without cavities to nest in. Known for their distinctive trill, screech owls are found most anywhere deciduous trees are found. However, these adorable little owls cannot survive if all the trees in a locale disappear.

WIN #12

GOPHER TORTOISE: Garden for Wildlife Volunteers to the Rescue

Gopher Tortoises have roamed the Earth for somewhere between 500,000 and 2 million years. Habitat loss and other threats caused their numbers to diminish in the last few decades, and today they are listed as a federally threatened species in Louisiana, Mississippi and part of Alabama. The State of Florida considers them threatened as well.

Enter the NWF Community Wildlife Habitat Team for Oakland Park, Fla.

This group of volunteers has worked successfully with the City Council to create a habitat for adopted gopher tortoises at the Lakeside Sand Pine Preserve. In addition, volunteers have educated children and youth through NWF’s Schoolyard Habitats program and created more than 150 wildlife habitats and gardens at schools, homes and businesses.

We’re happy to report the Sand Pine Preserve tortoise family is growing – a new juvenile burrow has been spotted by NWF volunteers – and that the city just achieved its certified Community Wildlife Habitat status.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2014/12/12-wins-for-wildlife-in-2014-that-you-made-possible/feed/60Coal Mines Threaten Mule Deerhttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/07/coal-mines-threaten-mule-deer/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/07/coal-mines-threaten-mule-deer/#commentsTue, 29 Jul 2014 16:31:42 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=98837Read more >]]>UPDATE on 7/30: BLM accepted a bid for $0.36/ton for the Spruce Stomp coal mine. Its worth noting that the coal company, Bowie Resources, can plan to turn around and sell this coal for $36.50 per ton.

Mule Deer populations have been declining in recent years across Colorado. And extracting coal across the western ranges where mule deer make their home could push some declining populations over the edge. Besides loss of vital habitat as the land is gutted to reach coal deposits, the ingestion of toxins from mining operations and disruption of migration routes threaten the survival of even far-ranging herds.

Mule deer graze near an open-pit coal mine. Photo by Micheal O’Leary.

To make matters even worse, the coal from these proposed mines would be exported and burned in overseas coal plants. After the coal is burned overseas, the toxic mercury pollution from burning coal rides the jet-stream across the Pacific and falls down on to northwest waterways with the rain—poisoning our wildlife.

Who Can Stop It?

Incredibly, on Wednesday, July 30, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is scheduled to sell access to mine 9 million tons of coal in the Rockies of Colorado – which would destroy almost 2,000 acres of mule deer habitat on the western slope.

Coal companies are hoping to continue business as usual, destroying our public land and profiting off of the dirtiest carbon pollution fuel on our planet, by finding new customers for their fossil fuel. Coal exports from U.S. have increased to record levels, with 126 million tons shipped in 2012, more than 10% of all production, with greater increases expected in coming years. On the West Coast, we have been working to prevent over 150 million tons of coal from being shipped out of Northwest ports. Proposals for export facilities exist in Louisiana, Texas, and South Carolina as well.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has the authority to stop coal mine expansion on BLM public lands in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Utah that also provide vital habitat for mule deer. They need to hear from you before they approve more coal mining leases!

Please urge the Bureau of Land Management to stop all new coal mine leases until the Federal Coal Leasing Program has been reformed to better protect wildlife and account for the impacts of climate change.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2014/07/coal-mines-threaten-mule-deer/feed/0Wood Ducklings Jump, But Don’t Worry, They Bouncehttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/wood-ducklings-jump-but-dont-worry-they-bounce/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/wood-ducklings-jump-but-dont-worry-they-bounce/#commentsWed, 04 Jun 2014 13:51:16 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=96282Read more >]]>Wood ducks are special to North America because they are found nowhere else in the world. They were threatened with near extinction in the late 1800s and early 1900s when habitat destruction and over-harvesting decimated populations. Their recovery is a celebrated wildlife success story, and is primarily attributed to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, though the installation of artificial nest boxes (primarily after 1940) provided an extra boost.

Wood Duck Boxes

Wood ducks, buffleheads, goldeneyes and mergansers are all cavity nesting ducks. They search for tree holes made by woodpeckers, decay, wildfire or lightning. Suitable natural cavities are in short supply, and wood ducks readily accept the constructed alternatives. Nest sites are typically wooded areas (wood duck) near ponds or marshes. You can build, install and maintain your a wood duck box in your yard and have a hands-on role in local wildlife management.

Day old ducklings getting ready to make their leap into Willow Creek below to join their mother. (Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Harlan Albers)

Dump Nesting

Although wood ducks pair up in January and breeding happens shortly after, nest boxes can be installed any time of year. Wood ducks are productive egg layers compared with other duck species. Hens will typically lay between 10-15 eggs, but a nest may have up to 40 eggs. Photographer Harlan Albers found 23 ducklings in his backyard nest box (see below), a result of dump nesting. If nests are too close together, a female wood duck may lay eggs in another hen’s nest. Luckily, the hen that has eggs dumped in her nest will raise them.

With perfect conditions and lucky timing the photographer was able to catch this little guy in full flight while joining his brood. (Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Harlan Albers)

Leap of Faith

Just one day after hatching (occasionally up to 4 days), wood ducklings must take a leap of faith. One by one the ducklings jump from their nest, which can be over 65 feet above the ground. They are so light that the fall doesn’t harm the little ducklings. They make their way to water as their mother calls to them.

Moose depend on clean water in rivers, streams and ponds, where they feed on aquatic plants.

Several moose populations are struggling in places where this majestic animal was once a common sight. In New Hampshire, the number of moose has dipped to fewer than 5,000 across the state and a population in northeastern Minnesota is declining at an alarming rate of 25% each year. Research is currently underway to determine why the moose are disappearing, but we do know that habitat loss in this country is one of the threats they face!

Habitat at Risk

Now, moose in the Northeast and Upper Midwest are facing a deadly new threat: toxic tar sands oil spills in the waters where they feed.

Protecting Moose from a Tar Sands Pipeline Spill

When a pipeline carrying tar sands oil ruptures, the poisonous sludge spewing into the water spreads quickly and is almost impossible to clean up—a heartbreaking lesson learned in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River, where toxic oil lingers and wildlife is still suffering from a pipeline spill three years ago.

But, we can help prevent a similar tragedy from destroying thousands of acres of sensitive wildlife habitat and taking a toll on moose and other wildlife by stopping tar sands pipelines.

Wildlife advocates like you have stood strong over the past year with communities like South Portland, Maine who are saying “no to tar sands” and “yes to wildlife”. With your help, we can press federal officials to deny Big Oil’s plans and keep tar sands from polluting the rivers, streams and ponds that moose and other wildlife depend on.

Bison are public wildlife, but it’s confusing because some are also owned as private domestic animals. The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the model practiced to manage our nation’s wildlife, failed this animal. Wildlife need areas to roam and bison have been denied that. We really don’t have a model for free ranging bison, but we can do it. –Glenn Hockett

Photo by Robin Poole.

I had a chance to sit down and interview Glenn Hockett, the Volunteer President of Gallatin Wildlife Association in Bozeman Montana, about wild bison and what their future may hold. The Gallatin Wildlife Association, like NWF, has been working for decades on behalf of wild bison restoration. Right now is a very important moment for wild bison, as Montana’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks are considering year-round bison occupancy of public lands both west and north of Yellowstone Park.

What is the major conflict with bison in the Yellowstone ecosystem?

It’s the social intolerance of the public lands livestock industry. They want native bison confined like domestic livestock to small areas. There is tension over public land use and they have created an illusion that bison cannot be respected and conserved as free-ranging wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Area. They have an irrational amount of fear-based political power, which has led to vast “no tolerance zones” for bison, severing their access to critical habitat outside the park. Adjoining nationally important public lands, including Wildlife Management Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, and National forests are off limits to native bison because a drop-dead line has been drawn in the sand.

Bison being Hazed back into Yellowstone using a helicopter. Flickr photo by Josh Mogerman.

We hear a lot about disease concerns and brucellosis in and around Yellowstone National Park, resulting in hazing and shooting bison that wander outside of the park. Are any of these conflicts being worked out?

Unfortunately, thousands of bison have been hazed and killed over the years in the name of brucellosis prevention. However, both elk and bison have been exposed to this livestock disease, and elk are allowed to range freely. Where we have agreement—we don’t want one more domestic cows to get brucellosis. We can work together to prevent brucellosis transmission from wildlife to cattle, but killing wildlife is not the solution.

Brucellosis is largely a seasonally contagious disease associated with the last trimester of pregnancy through calving (Feb. 15–June 15). Cattle can be protected from disease transmission from Greater Yellowstone wildlife by managing the livestock use of important wildlife winter and calving ranges. In research studies conducted in the Greater Yellowstone Area Brucella bacteria has never persisted in the environment past June 15. Thus, managing cattle turn out dates until after June 15 is nearly rock solid protection for cattle. Once female bison have calved, and they typically calve from mid-April to the end of May they no longer pose a threat. Bull bison never pose a threat of transmission.

Thus, there is no reason for the government to haze or capture any bison after June 15, especially a cow bison with her newborn calf. Furthermore, we appropriately allow elk to roam freely outside the park, and they have also been exposed to brucellosis, but bison are treated differently. Is it because they eat grass?

Photo by Robin Poole.

What have been the major changes in bison management in and around the Park the last several years?

There has been a shift in the debate from the talk of eradication of brucellosis to managing the disease. We’ve had two Environmental Assessments for increased bison habitat on the north and west sides of the Park. There is increased public awareness about the plight of bison and the opportunities for bison restoration and conservation. In addition, we’ve had implementation of a Designated Surveillance Area for cattle—this has helped “un-demonize” the disease, and helps ensure cattle stay brucellosis-free.

But we have a long ways to go. We all agree there are places bison shouldn’t be, but we have yet to agree on where bison can be. The opportunity to restore and conserve native bison as respected free-ranging wildlife to the Greater Yellowstone Area, largely on national public lands, is slowly but surely taking place. National Wildlife Federation members can help make this happen.

Springtime calving season in the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Flickr photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What is the issue with private property rights and bison?

In some cases there are no problems. Many private landowners enjoy bison. The problem is we aren’t asking the landowner if they are ok with bison and, if not, how might we build tolerance. Court cases have said wildlife—including bison—are part of the landscape.

However, the livestock industry has created the illusion that every private landowner hates bison. That just isn’t the case.

Many small and large private landowners in the Greater Yellowstone Area are bison advocates. However, as it currently stands, if you want to allow native bison on your private lands, you can’t. Bison advocates’ private property rights are being violated, because the Montana Department of Livestock can enter their land without their permission to remove or kill bison. This law needs to be repealed, but that takes time. On the other hand, if bison are “threatening” livestock on private lands, the DOL is required to remove these bison (or the private landowner can kill the bison). The anti-bison crowd’s private property rights are protected.

How long has the Gallatin Wildlife Association been involved with bison issues?

Too long, I have pictures of bison in the early 1990s in the upper Gallatin, but they are gone. We have a chance to restore that population right now. We have some very dedicated people who have been working on this now for close to 30 years. Just like the bison, we remain patient and persistent.

Bison along the Nez Perce National Historic Trail Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Forest Service photo, by Joni Packard.

What has the Gallatin Wildlife Association done to help with bison management issues around the park?

We’ve been instrumental in getting these animals respected as a valued native wildlife species, protecting and connecting their habitat and increasing public awareness. Bison are native wildlife. It’s that simple. We need to respect them as such.

Do you think the challenges with Yellowstone will change?

Of course, however, at times it doesn’t seem like were moving forward an inch. But the public debate has changed from one of “eradication” to respecting and protecting bison as a valued native wildlife species. They need habitat and we have that habitat here in Montana. Rather than trying to fence the bison in, we should be working to “fence” the conflicts out. Let them show us the way.

In addition to the now expected flurry of online organizing, something surprising is happening, and the press is taking note. Concerned community members are now turning out in droves to show their personal opposition to coal in packed public hearings, often after having to wait for hours just to have one brief chance for their voice to be heard.

Be sure to do your part with the National Wildlife Federation action alerts on this issue, and do join us if you have the opportunity to get involved more personally. Staking your claim to clean air, clean water, and becoming a catalyst for the change to a cleaner global economy never sounded so good. And you might just make the newspapers.

Michael O’Leary of Portland, Oregon is an Outreach Consultant for National Wildlife Federation working on coal export and renewable energy issues in the Pacific Northwest, where he’s been a political organizer for over 15 years. Michael is a certified cycling instructor and a certifiable bike enthusiast, and can often be found on two wheels, rain or shine.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2013/01/coal-export-opposition-dominates-public-hearings/feed/2Hurricane Sandy’s Impact on Fish and Wildlifehttp://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/hurricane-sandys-impact-on-fish-and-wildlife/
http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/hurricane-sandys-impact-on-fish-and-wildlife/#commentsTue, 30 Oct 2012 13:00:38 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=69560Read more >]]>Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the East Coast this week and due to its unusual West-turning track, it came ashore midway in the eastern “Megalopolis” with its 65 million people. Virginia and Maryland were drenched and pummeled and New York and New Jersey were flooded and smashed. Human impact is the main concern for so many but, what happens to fish and wildlife during such major storms? After Hurricane Irene devastated the east coast in August of 2011, we wrote a synopsis of the ways species are affected by major storms coming ashore and some things you can do to help them. Here is an updated “Sandy” version of that blog post.

Scattered to the Winds

Seagoing Northern Gannet: U.S. FWS

The powerful winds from Sandy have blown many sea birds inland and this will cause them to end up in unusual places sometimes hundreds of miles away from their home habitat. Species of birds such as gannets, gulls and petrels are often picked up by hurricane-force winds and are pushed far distances with little ability to resist. In 2010, a North Carolina brown pelicanwas found on the roof of a night club in Halifax, Nova Scotia after a major storm. With Sandy, most of the Fall migration is over for the year but there are still some birds such as scoters and cormorants making their way to warmer waters and weather. And, sometimes younger or weaker birds become separated from their flock and many can take days and weeks to return home.

Sea birds and waterfowl are most exposed in hurricanes. Songbirds and smaller woodland birds, by contrast, have less difficulty. They are specially adapted to hold on, lay low and ride things out. In very strong winds, their toes automatically tighten around their perch. This holds them in place during high winds or when they sleep. Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters will, barring the destruction of the tree itself, ride out storms in tree holes. Shorebirds, such as sandpipers, often move to inland areas. In a unique effect of cyclonic hurricanes, the eye of the storm with its fast-moving walls of intense wind can form a massive “bird cage” holding birds inside the eye until the storm dissipates. It is often the eye of the storm that displaces birds, more than its strong winds. Sandy’s eye was less well-defined when compared to other hurricanes.

Birds are not the only species affected by the winds. Sea mammals can be harmed too. While many can seek shelter in open water or in near shore shelter, some dolphins and manatees have actually been blown ashore during major storms.

Flattened Forests

The “tree toll” of Sandy has not yet been tallied but in 1992, Hurricane Andrew generated incredible wind velocities onshore and knocked down as many as 80 percent of the trees on several coastal Louisiana basins, such as the Atchafalaya. Tree loss duringHurricane Katrina in 2005 caused even more extensive damage. Loss of coastal forests and trees can be devastating to dependent wildlife species and migratory species. Many wildlife species have very specialized niches in these forests, and specific foods can disappear too. High winds will often strip fruits, seeds and berries from bushes and trees.

Dune and Beach Loss

Sandy has clearly been tough on the Midatlantic’s sand shoreline. Storm surges, wave action, and winds cause beach and dune erosion and that can severely affect wildlife species. Many wildlife species live in ecological niches in the sandy areas and dunes of coastal barrier islands. In some cases the storm can cause a beach area to fully disappear. Sea turtle nests, for example, are dug right in to the beach and can be washed out, or a water surge, called a “wash over” can submerge these nests or nearby tern and plover nesting areas.

Saltwater in Freshwater Areas

The sustained and powerful winds of a hurricane will cause salty ocean water to pile up and surge onshore. Sandy pushed water into lower Manhattan and that has gathered most of the headlines but coastal marshes and bays can litterally be poisened by too much salt. These “storm surges” can be huge. Hurricane Irene’s surges, in 2011, brought water levels that were as much as 8 feet above normal high tide and Sandy’s peaked between 10 and 13 feet. Katrina, in 2005, pushed a 30 foot high surge onto the coast. In addition to the physical damage this causes, the salt contained in sea water dramatically shifts the delicate balance of freshwater and brackish wetland areas such as in the Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic Coast. Creatures and vegetation that are less salt-tolerant will be harmed and many will not survive the influx of sea water. Marsh grasses, crabs, minnows, fish hatchlings, insects, and myriad creatures of freshwater and estuarine environments are harmed by a surge. The salt water intrusion in these some of these areas does not drain off very quickly and can even harm or kill off bottomland forests and other coastal trees.

Massive Flooding of Rivers, Bays and Wetlands

The reverse is true too. The heavy rains generated by hurricanes will dump water in coastal area river basins (called watersheds) and this, in turn, can send vast amounts of fresh water surging downstream into coastal bays and estuaries. This upsets the delicate and finely tuned freshwater/salt water balance that can be so vital for the health of these ecosystems. In 1972, Hurricane Agnes sent such massive amounts of freshwater into the Chesapeake Bay. A similar thing is happening with water from Sandy’s eight to 10 inches of rainfall. The normally brackish (partially salty) water of the Bay was fresh for months following Agnes placing great pressure on the species living there.

Dark, Muddy Water

Heavy rainfall in upstream areas also washes soil, sediment and many pollutants into coastal and marine environments. After Hurricane Agnes, the turbidly or cloudiness of the water became so severe in the Chesapeake Bay that the native grasses growing on the bottom of Bay died off in huge quantities. These grasses provided critical habitat from crabs, fish spawning and many species. It took the Bay years to recover. Similarly, sediment can wash over coral reefs, blocking needed sunlight and even causing algae to grow.

Violent Waters Everywhere

Hurricane Irene, like other hurricanes, generated massive waves and violent action on the surface. When hurricane Andrew hit Louisiana the government estimated that more than 9 million fish were killed offshore. Similarly an assessment of the effect of that same storm on the Everglades Basin in Florida showed that 182 million fish were killed. Hurricane Katrina also had a huge effect on dolphin species. Many dolphins were hurt during the storm and were rescued and underwent rehabilitation.

Climate Change

The prognosis for wildlife surviving hurricanes can be hard to assess. There are many success stories and also accounts of major devastation. The question remains, however, about whether wild creatures will. like humans, be experiencing more catastrophic hurricanes in the future. Amanda Staudt, NWF’s climate scientist, posted a piece at Wildlife Promise a couple of days ago that looks at how continued warming through climate change may be fueling major hurricanes and may have been a factor with Sandy.

What Can You Do?

The forces of hurricanes, such as Sandy, are so immense that they deserve tremendous respect. So the first thing you can do is to stay safe yourself. Heed public safety warnings, prepare your property by collecting and storing lose items outside, be prepared for power outages and use common sense. Following a storm, birders and wildlife enthusiasts can help by keeping their eyes peeled for unusual or rare species that turn up. It is useful for wildlife agencies to hear about rare appearances. Wildlife rescue organizations should be contacted if someone sees a creature that was injured in a storm. It always recommended to avoid trying to handle and injured animal on your own unless you have had specific training. If you usually feed birds at your home, the post storm calm is a good time to fill up those feeders. Your pals will probably be hungry and tired after waiting out the storm.

In 2008, when they thought no one was watching, oil companies Enbridge and the Portland Montreal Pipeline Company hatched a plan to reverse the flow of two existing pipelines to send dirty tar sands crude through Ontario, Quebec, and into Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine for refining along the East Coast and Gulf Coast and export abroad. The plan would have exposed American treasures to the risks of a tar sands oil spill. These include Sebago Lake, which supplies Portland, Maine with its drinking water; the Connecticut River, New England’s largest; the Misissiquoi River, historically valuable to tribes and tributary of Lake Champlain; and other critical resources. It also would have provided another fuse to set off the tar sands carbon bomb by giving this land-locked resource access to markets abroad and in the U.S.

In 2009 the plan was shelved due to the poor economy. Now it’s back. And Big Oil won’t tell you about it.

That’s because Canada’s dirty secret has gotten out. Tar sands are an environmental disaster. As James Hansen put it, tar sands are a climate bomb that would add 120 parts per million of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, enough to catapult us past a host of dangerous climate tipping points. Tar sands development is also turning North America’s bird nursery into a toxic waste zone, leading to the decline of caribou in Alberta, and responsible for a tragic and misguided plan to kill thousands of wolves to “protect” caribou instead of forcing Big Oil to stop destroying caribou habitat.

And then there is the risk of spills. When Line 6B ruptured in Michigan in July of 2010, 1.2 million gallons of oil–enough oil to cover over three acres of land with a foot of oil–spilled into the Kalamazoo River. The cost of clean-up has been 18 times per liter as that of already expensive conventional oil spills, while sticky tar sands still coats portions of the river’s bottom and the spill has left many residents sick.

Now that they are being watched, Big Oil wants to hide the ball. But their plans to bring tar sands to New England are becoming increasingly clear.

First, in summer of 2011, Enbridge announced plans to partially reverse the flow of Line 9, the first of the two pipelines in the original “Trailbreaker” proposal. Last week, before Canadian hearings on the partial reversal have even occurred, Enbridge announced a plan to fully reverse the flow of the Line 9 pipeline all the way to Montreal. And Enbridge finally conceded that diluted bitumen (the especially corrosive form of tar sands) was slated to be transported through Line 9. Assuming Canadian officials increasingly beholden to Big Oil will rubberstamp these plans, Enbridge is now one step away–reserving the flow of the Portland-Montreal pipeline–from bringing tar sands to New England.

New England can’t afford to have Big Oil’s attempt to sneak tar sands through the region succeed. In July, New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Provincial Premiers are meeting in Burlington, Vermont. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is hosting. Governor Shumlin has been a true leader on energy issues and climate. He also understands that the Connecticut River cannot become the next Kalamazoo.

“I don’t think that we’ve dug deep enough in terms of really having a plan that’s going to enrich us all and make New England and the Northeast provinces the place where we get energy right. We have that opportunity; the planning for that opportunity is in your hands.”

The meeting will focus on a climate change plan endorsed by the Governors and Premiers to reduce greenhouse gases by 10 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2020.

Getting energy right, protecting New England from an environmental calamity like the Kalamazoo spill, and reducing carbon pollution means keeping New England tar sands free and denying tar sands’ companies the market access they crave. At the July meeting, the Governors and Premiers need to discuss the threat of tar sands to New England and set a goal of keeping New England tar sands free.

Governor Shumlin is right, New England has an opportunity to get energy policy right, and that opportunity is in our hands. Big Oil wants to snake tar sands into the Northeast. They are hoping we won’t notice. We can’t afford to let that happen.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2012/05/big-oils-big-plans-for-tar-sands-in-new-england/feed/10My Run in With a Mountain Lionhttp://blog.nwf.org/2012/04/my-run-in-with-a-mountain-lion/
http://blog.nwf.org/2012/04/my-run-in-with-a-mountain-lion/#commentsTue, 24 Apr 2012 15:40:41 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=54508Read more >]]>Working at NWF allows me to work on issues that affect our daily lives–like mercury and carbon pollution, but also issues that will shape future generations and their connection with nature–like preventing the expansion of dirty fuels such as tar sands oil and coal. But the point of most of what we do at NWF is to help kids get outside and reconnect people with nature. After all, they are going to be the next voice for wildlife and conservation.

It’s hard to pinpoint the moment when I began to see nature and the outdoors as my own personal refuge, but the video below does share an outdoor moment that I will never forget–when I was a kid and I encountered a mountain lion. Don’t worry, I was about 30 yards away from the mountain lion so there wasn’t much to be afraid of. Here are some tips on what to do if you do come across a mountain lion.

At that moment I realized that I was in someone else’s backyard–a species who had been calling those mountains home way before my Aunt and Uncle moved there. These are the moments that I want to protect for other people, and is a reminder of why I love what I do. Wildlife habitat is being threatened at an unprecedented rate, and many are facing the threat of extinction, please take action!

National Wildlife Federation’s Storytelling Video Diary Series shares the candid tales of nine NWF staffers from around the country; armed with their cameras in the Great Lakes, California, South Dakota, the Pacific Northwest, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC, these nine staffers will share with you their individual trials, epiphanies and stories as they unfold in their daily adventures.